The contact owns a 1995 Ford Thunderbird. The contact stated that the vehicle overheated within minutes of being started. He noticed thick, white smoke coming from the tailpipe and the "low coolant" warning indicator light illuminated. The repair shop stated that the head gasket needed to be replaced. The current mileage was 69,000 and failure mileage was 68,000.

- Cleveland, OH, USA

1995 Ford Thunderbird 3.8. the consumer complained about an engine problem on October 3, 2005. Took vehicle to a Ford dealership, they wanted $4600 to put in a new engine. In December 2003 vehicle was leaking antifreeze from timing chain gasket. Had vehicle repaired immediately. Vehicle was not involved in any accident nor have there been any property damage. Police have never been notified. Vehicle has only 32,000 miles on it. The vehicle still has the original engine. The consumer called Ford Motor Company, and they said the warranty expired.

- Shorewood, IL, USA

Blown head gaskets on 1995 Ford Thunderbird.

- Sullivan, IN, USA

Vehicle smoking from underneath hood and leaking coolant. Consumer's wife was driving when the vehicle started to shake, a billow of white smoke came from under the hood of the vehicle and the vehicle leaked coolant. The vehicle was towed and the diagnosis was a head gasket leak which allowed coolant into the combustion chamber. The coolant contaminated the oil and was leaking out the rear of the exhaust system. The consumer's wife was told the vehicle may be covered under a recall/extended warranty. The recall only covered 1994 models not 1995. The consumer later learned the part was covered under warranty. Ford wouldn't cover the repair because the vehicle wasn't diagnosed/repaired at a Ford dealer. Consumer stated that if the woman at the Ford dealership would've confirmed the warranty on the part, the vehicle would have been at a Ford dealership. Consumer felt Ford should have reimburse them the cost of the repairs since their representative was at fault.

- Spotswood, NJ, USA

By now it is quite apparent of the notorious Ford 3.8L head gasket failure issue. Well, just to keep people up to date on Ford's business practices. My wife bought a 1995 Ford Thunderbird in Nov 1995. (I must first start off by saying that I am the computer literate one, that is why I am complaining, and I am the one who will be forced to fix/pay for the head gaskets in her Thunderbird). Today is April 9th 2003, I am beginning to notice symptoms in the performance of the car (losing coolant, erratic temperature changes) which would indicate a blown head gasket. In doing a little research on the web, I came across some info that there was (2) extended warranties put out on the 3.8L engine by Ford, that she has. We never received any recall or customer satisfaction bulletins stating we needed to bring the vehicle in to have this fixed. When I called the hiller Ford, hales corners, Wisconsin, they told me that we didn't receive the notice because our 3.8L 232 V6 engine wasn't part of the recall program for 3.8L 232 V6 engines because ours wasn't built in the time slot nor the plant that the program (tsb 00M10) was pertaining too. Sounds like a Firestone bs story to me. I called Ford in dearborn, mi and they told me that it was part of the program but since the 7 years warranty extension as part of the recall expired Nov 17th 2002, we now have to eat the cost of replacing Ford's design failure by a few months. My dad, myself, and both of my sisters each have Ford Explorer and I hope Ford is happy with the money they made off of all of my family because they will not get another penny from us, as long as, they want to blow me off for a $1500 design flaw that they do not want to live up to. First Firestone, now Ford.

- Franksville, WI, USA

While driving, engine light flashes on and off. Vehicle started running badly, and smoke came of tailpipe due to head gasket blowning out.

- Cinncinnati, OH, USA

While driving 35 mph vehicle started to bounce a bit, and then consumer pulled over and found out that head gasket had blowen. Contacted dealer.

- Redding, CA, USA

Oil pump failed while driving and caused the 3.8L V6 engine to lock up. Dealer an manufacturer were notified. Feel free to provide any further infromation.

- Oak Forest, IL, USA

Seal failed known problem with V 6 3.3L faulty design ack by Ford will not replace car can blow up not recommended for driving severe safety implications.

- California, CA, USA

While driving about 40 mph, smoke started coming from rear of vehicle, dealer told consumer that smoke was off due to a blown head gasket. Consumer stated that to start the vehicle, he had to try couple of times and while driving 65 mph he noticed engine overheating pointer moving towards higher than normal and lowered his speed to 40 mph and stopped the vehicle, while backing up, the engine started shaking, when putting in drive it ran normally then noticed abnormal smoke coming out of muffler, the service engineer told him that head cylinder gasket was blown, and coolant was leaking into engine and to the muffler.

- Stanford, CT, USA

The head gasket in my car has failed as have many of the 3.8L Ford V6's Ford has produced also the driver side mirror fell off the car while driving down the raod there was no sign of tampering with it no scratches no dents just fell right off the car and on to the road!!!!.

- Mount Airy, NC, USA

Head gasket blewout without any warning. This seems to be a continuing problem for Thunderbirds.

- El Monte, CA, USA

I have antifreeze pouring from my tail pipe. Ford mechanics missed the head gasket problem when it was small and fixed parts damaged by the overheating problem. Now that the head gasket has worsened--the car isn't drivable. And has exceeded their 100,000 mile warranty. My car was under the warranty when their machanics overlooked my head gaskets.

- Louisville, KY, USA

Engine check light keeps coming on. Consuemr feels vehicle is overheating.

- Mckenleyville, CA, USA

Have had heat problems all winter. Had no idea the head gasket was blown.

- East Chicago, IN, USA

Consumer had been having problems with vehicle accelerating and losing power. Took vehicle to dealer for check up, dealer found out that engine head gasket had blown. Consumer states that the letter indicated work is covered in may, however this work was completed in April, consumer feels Ford should still be responsible.

- Braintree, MA, USA

This inquiry through NHTSA is a result of little assistance from Ford moror co. In reference to a design related defect on 1995 V6, 3.8 liter engines. My problem developed at 85000 miles and upon inquiry with Ford found that "only" the 1995 Sable and Taurus were included in an existing recall/extended warranty program related to head gasket problems. Ford said that they could not assist me with my Thunderbird, but if I chose to repair it, I could save my receipts and they may be able to assist later if and only if the Thunderbird was included in the recall/extended warranty program. The primary symptom of such a problem is the illumination of a yellow engine light. In my case, since I drive almost exclusively on the freeway, the engine light does not illuminate since adequate cooling and reduced engine stress occurs at that time. Hence I was able to continue driving the vehicle without a major problem. Unfortunately Ford did not record my original inquiry through their customer service department. So when Ford finally included the Thunderbird in the extended warranty program for the same problem found on Sable and tauruses, I had went beyond the 100,000 extended warranty limit. As a result, they now conclude that they cannot assist in repair of the vehicle. I'm extremely frustrated and concerned about the out of pocket cost I now am faced with for a problem that has been proven to be a Ford design issue. Worse yet, the dealership in springfield, oh (where I live), has disassembled the engine block and confirmed that the problem is indeed the same one that has affected the 95 Sable, Taurus and now Thunderbird. I'm also concerned about the inability of a customer to proceed beyond the customer assistance representatives who are reached through their 800 phone number. Efforts to discuss my situation to a more knowledgeable representative at perhaps a higher level in the company have been futile. Thats why I've contacted NHTSA.

- Springfield, OH, USA

Head gasket on my 1995, 3.8 L thunder bird, failed at 41000 miles.

- Orland Park, IL, USA

I had been having problems with the heat in the cooler months, then there was a surge of power while I was driving I almost crashed into the car ahead of me, I pulled over. When I started it up again it seemed ok, I took it to my mechanic and he told me of the head gasket problems with the 3.8L engines. I contacted the original dealer of the car they said bring it in to check. They confirmed head gasket failure and also timing cover gasket failure, which was not covered in the recall. I paid for the timing cover gaskets because I was told there could be an engine failure if I didn't and it wouldn't be covered. Apx 2 months later I began hearing a faint knock, I had the oil checked and it was fine. The knock got louder, my mechanic told me it was a rod knock, due to corrosion of coolant from the original head gasket failure. Ford says they are not responsible. I am disabled with a rare brain malformation and broke down alone, I thought this product would give me safe transportation. It did not and now I have no transportation to my doctor appts.

- Fords, NJ, USA

The safety concern at stake is when you hydro-lock a motor at 50 M.P.H. on a busy highway, and the massively thick plume of white smoke that succeeds the blown headgasket. My vehicle was regularly maintained and there was nothing that could have been done to prevent this shy of replacing the cheap paper gasket that the manufacturer installed with a quality felpro gasket or the like at the original purchase of the vehicle. The question that I have is why am I finding hundreds into the thousands of complaints on the internet about Ford 3.8L engines in the range of 1995 for every model of vehicle, but yet Ford only acknowledges a few choice models for a recall. (all mustangs, Thunderbirds, Cougar, aerostars, etc. Had identical 3.8 L engines.) I can provide a list of witnesses to the event, along with a list of mechanics who I have interviewed concerning 3.8 L head gasket defects. They all agree.... it's spread out among all models... not just the few that Ford specifies. Why does property damage or loss of life have to occur to produce a justified recall? especially when the manufacturer semi-confesses to a headgasket problem with a particular motor. Thank you for your time... my engine isn't the only thing that is steamed!

- Dillsburg, PA, USA